William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream

by Georghia Ellinas (reteller), Shakespeare's Globe, Jane E. Ray (Illustrations)

Retold for a picture book audience, the Bard's mischievous take on love run amok in fairyland meets its match in luminous illustrations by Jane Ray.

If we shadows have offended,
Think but this, and all is mended,
That you have but slumber'd here . . .

There's trouble in the Fairy Kingdom. King Oberon wants to teach Titania, his proud wife, a lesson. Things heat up when four young nobles arrive in the enchanted forest from Athens. They're all in love--but with the wrong person. It's up to Puck, a playful sprite who isn't above a bit of mischief after dark, to do his master's bidding, trick Queen Titania, and dial down the drama among foolish lovers. With a certain potion at his disposal, what could go wrong? Retold from Puck's point of view in simple, accessible language, peppered with quotes from Shakespeare's original play, and brought to life in Jane Ray's lush, moonlit illustrations, this introduction to the Bard's most enchanting comedy hints at the richness of his work while being a lovely keepsake edition in its own right.

Genres: Picture Books, Shakespeare, Retellings, Childrens, Fantasy, Classics

32 pages, Hardcover

Published April 20, 2021

About the author

Georghia Ellinas, a former English teacher, has focused on working with teachers across the U.K. and the world for the last thirty years. She has written several books about teaching Shakespeare, and in her role as Head of Learning at Shakespeare's Globe was responsible for creating programs to make Shakespeare accessible and relevant to children of all ages. She lives in the south of England.

Reviews

[Kailey (Luminous Libro) · Rating 3 out of 5]

When the Fairy Queen Titania and the Fairy King Oberon are fighting, no one is happy. Least of all Puck, who is tasked with finding the nectar of a magical flower that will make people fall in love. Puck is up to mischief, making all the wrong people fall in love. There is a lot of merriment in cases of mistaken identity, but can Puck put things right again?

This retelling of Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream condenses the main story of the play, but keeps all the main characters and plot fairly intact. Even as much as it is condensed, the story still feels too long and complicated for a picture book for young children. I'm sure a child would have trouble keeping track of the many characters. The text is also too wordy and long for a picture book.

I'm not a huge fan of the art style. It's a little too whimsical and weird for me. I would have preferred a more graceful and elegant art style. The art sometimes looks distorted. People's lips are too big, and their hands are too large for their body, and their eyes have no depth. I did like the wild landscapes and the trees though.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

[Cris Edwards · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Midsummer Night's Dream is one of only a few Shakespeare plays that are well suited for an adaptation for young children [there are fairies and love spells and, most importantly, nobody is murdered]. But, even in the full five-act original script, the convoluted story and large cast are confusing, which is the issue with this shortened adaptation. I think the author could have stuck with the most basic story of Puck and the four characters who get mixed up in love and it would have been clearer for readers. It's understandable that my favorite scene from Midsummer—the production of 'Pyramus and Thisbe' by the "rude mechanical" troupe of actors —needed to be excluded in this version. More of the story could have been expunged for the sake of this children's adaptation, in my opinion.

The watercolor illustrations are lovely, though!

[Alex Baugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Introducing kids to Shakespeare can be difficult, but thanks to Georghia Ellinas it has become easier and this retelling of A Midsummer Night's Dream is a perfect summertime read. Full of mischief making, love, mistaken identities, this comedy of errors is narrated by Robin Goodfellow and called Puck, a sprite who likes to play tricks on fairies. Oberon and Titania, the King and Queen of the fairies, are fighting over a young boy Titania has adopted and Oberon wants as a page. At the same time, Lysander and Hermia have run away from Athens to Puck's enchanted forest in order to get married. But Hermia is supposed to marry Demetrius, whom she doesn't love and who has followed Lysander and Hermia into the forest. Helena, who is in love with Demetrius and who does not lover her back, followed him into the forest. Meanwhile, Oberon has sent Puck to fetch a magical flower that will cause a person to fall in love with the first person they see, intending it to be used on Titania. Returning with the flower, Oberon tells Puck to use it on Demetrius so he will fall in love with Helena. But a case of mistaken identity happens and, well, mayhem ensures. Not surprisingly, none of the original flavor or humor of the story is lost in this retelling. Georghia Ellinas really knows her Shakespeare, after all, she is Head of Learning at the Globe Theater in London. The text of this picture book for older readers is perfectly matched with the colorful watercolor illustrations, done in a palette of blues, with plenty of details on each page for exploration and conversation. And to really add to the flavor, and introduce young readers to Shakespeare's writing itself, there are plenty quotes from the actual play interspersed throughout.

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this one quite much; I hope will get a finnish translation someday of this picture book! Beautifully illustrared version.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing Illustrations by Jane Ray and wonderful SIMPLIFIED (but not dumbed-down) retelling of Midsummer Night's Dream.
While the plot may seem a bit ridiculous between a mismatched pair of lovers, a Donkey headed actor, a feuding pair of fairy royals, a would-be playing troupe and a mischievous imp named Puck making a mess of it all may seem to lose some readers or audience viewers.
Georghia Ellinas' retelling coupled with Jane Ray's wonderfully racially diverse cast of characters and stunning illustrations not only clarify the story's plot points for a younger audience, but it also provides visual cues for the reader.
For instance, when in the Forest, everything seems a bit off. One illustration shows what is going on in the woods all at once in different locations around the forest. It's almost like a map, but the plot makes perfect sense.
The play omits the sexual tones affiliated and clips out most of the Rude Mechanicals' scenes aside from Bottom the ass-head. It is a very nearly perfect adaptation of the show's script, providing a great intro for young readers and reluctant readers, esp. with these illustrations.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robin Goodfellow (Puck) tells the story of Hermia, Lysander, Demetrius and Helena, and how the king of the fairies, Oberon and his queen Titania are in an argument that causes trouble for the young lovers. Hermia and Lysander had run away to get married, and Hermia's best friend Helena would like to catch the attention of Demetrius, but he isn't interested in Helena, he's planning to marry Hermia. King Opberon sends Puck to put a magic elixer in Demetrius eyes, but he get the wrong man, and the lovers get all mixed up, Poor Puck - he's got quit a mess to undo.

I can't get over the illustrations, so beautiful. It's hard to put a full Shakespeare play into a short picture book, and I loved this retelling. It didn't feel like a synopsis, rather a story of its own. I can see reading this with a young Shakespeare cast to give them the background knowledge of the story. Showing this to my theater teacher right now! The only draw back. it's larger than my other picture books, while it fits on the shelf, it's both taller and wider.

Cross posted to http://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, I fell in love with this magical, charming story that takes a comical look at love gone wrong in the fairy tale kingdom. Told from the POV of Robin Goodfellow, the one everyone calls Puck, the one who has the ability to make himself invisible and play tricks on both fairies and mortals.

Even though the story is abbreviated and retold for kids, there are original quotes peppered throughout and the gorgeous illustrations on oversized quality pages that really seemed to make this story come alive and jump off the pages. Personally, I think the older children (ages 6-8) in the targeted range would be more enthralled by this one.

This is the second book in the retelling series. I missed The Tempest (2020) but, now have a need to check that one out as well. A lovely book, be sure to check it out.

Thanks go to Candlewick Press for sending this gem my way in exchange for my unbiased review.

[Vera Godley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is truly a beautiful book with exquisite artwork that invokes books of bygone eras. As far as the book's visual appeal is concerned, it is marvelous. However, the black text on some of the pages is difficult to read.

This children's retelling of Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream is lengthy and convoluted for young children. So it would be for the older readers of picture books.

A beautiful book. A short introduction to Shakespearean plays.

I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.

[Jenn Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is... fine. I don't have any real issues with it, but overall the illustrations and execution felt dated. If I had read this in a different context, I wouldn't have known it was a new release. Nothing wrong with it, but I wouldn't go out of my way either.

Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Cat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not for littles I think. Not that special either. Don't get me wrong, I love the original story! I think maybe Classics Illustrated did it better and it was maybe 3rd-4th grade level . It made a great intro to Shakespeare. This book not so much sorry.
I received a Kindle arc from Edelweiss in exchange for a fair review.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you've studied the play, "A Midsummer Night's Dream", you will love this re-telling. With magical illustrations, it can introduce the laughter and surprise that comes from mishaps when love potions do not end up the way they're meant. Thanks to Candlewick Press for the copy!

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Megan Wagner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Doesn't really translate well into a children's story.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another wonderful adaptation by Georghia Ellinas again with luminously beautiful illustrations by Jane Ray.

[Aries Aster · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was cute. It's like if Puck was on trial but the jury was children so he was downplaying all of the bad stuff.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short, picture book length retelling of the play, that can be understood by early elementary age children. It is beautifully illustrated by Jane Ray.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful!!! Great for children.

[Nanny B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations!
Hard to follow storyline with multiple characters but it is Shakespeare!

[Y.Poston]

such a beautiful retelling

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely beautiful illustrations. Story is good in given length.